Harris, Guillory Post Top Times in B1G

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By JACK ROSSI
hawkeyesports.com

SOUTH BEND, Indiana — Junior Mar’yea Harris reclaimed the top spot in the Big Ten 400 meters at the Meyo Invite and junior Briana Guillory set the fastest 200 meter time in the conference at the Frank Sevigne Invitational on Saturday.

Harris ran 45.95 in the 400 meters to set a new seasons bests and record the fastest time in the Big Ten so far this season.
 

“I saw a little bit faster, but I am not upset with what I ran,” Harris said. “I think there is a lot more in the tank and it’s going to be a good season.”

Harris also ranks third in Division I.

Guillory won the 200 meters with a time of 23.26 and now ranks second in school history in the event behind Brittany Brown. Guillory is first in the Big Ten and 10th in the nation.

HAWKEYE THROWING OBJECTS
Junior Nia Britt set a new personal best in the shot put with a throw of 15.81 meters (51 feet, 10.5 inches) on her way to third place finish. Sophomore Laulauga Tausaga placed fourth (15.61 meters; 51 feet 3.5 inches). Britt improves to second in school history behind Tausaga in the event.

“I am very pleased with my throw and was actually really shocked,” Britt said. “I haven’t PR’d like that since high school. I see (Lagi’s) throws and it motivates me to throw far.”

Junior Reno Tuufuli won the men’s shot put with a mark of 18.48 meters.

GOING THE DISTANCE
The Hawkeye distance crew showed that the first day wasn’t a fluke with four personal bests, including an all-time mark in the mile.

Sophomores Nathan Mylenek (8:19.04), Karson Sommer (8:20.17), and Luke Sampson (8:25.61) all set personal bests in the Ryan Shay 3K. Mylenek placed fourth overall while Sommer finished sixth and Sampson was 12th.

Senior Michael Melchert returned to form and it showed with a personal best in the Meyo Mile. Melchert hung back until a final kick at the end of the race boosted him to a sixth place finish and time of 4:04.32.

Melchert passed former Iowa head coach and All-American Larry Wieczorek for fourth in school history.

MIDDLE DISTANCE MAYHEM
Harris wasn’t the only Hawkeye to have a fast day on the track, the rest of the 400 meter group enjoyed day of personal bests. Senior Sommer Sharpe recorded a 55.69 to place second overall followed by senior Sheridan Champe (55.52) in third place, junior Sarah Plock (55.88) in fourth, and freshman Shelby West (57.59) in 24th.

Sophomore Chris Thompson posted a time of 47.32 to move into Iowa’s all-time list at No. 8 while junior DeJuan Frye (47.38), freshman Bradford Garron (47.42), and sophomore Austin Lietz (48.38) all recorded lifetime bests in the event as the men swept the 1-4 spots in the 400 meter invite sections.

NOTABLES
Talia Buss (200 Meters) – Personal Best, 24.74
Tashee Hargrave (200 Meters) – Personal Best, 25.24
Anthony Williams (60 Meter Hurdles) – Personal Best, 7.97; tied for sixth all-time

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes split up for the second straight weekend for the Iowa State Classic and Tyson Invitational.